Payroll Administrator Donyelle Till talks Detroit Public Schools in a video posted on the union's Web site.While Robert Bobb looks to improve academics in the Detroit Public Schools, office staff say they know how to save the district more than $100 million over the next five years.

"We understand what is working, what is not working, how to save taxpayers money and how to improve services," the union says in the report, outlining ways the district could save money while generating additional revenue.

The plan includes four main cost-saving recommendations:

Reducing absenteeism and bringing in more funding: The union says clerical workers can work with the district to increase enrollment 1 percent per year over the next five years, generating more than $92.4 million in revenue over that period.

Reduce waste in purchasing supplies and equipment: The union says 10 percent of district supplies don't go where they are needed or are used ineffectively. Working with management, office staff believe they can save the district an additional 3 percent (or around $1.9 million) on supply costs each year.

Reduce cost of photocopying: Using Pittsburgh Public Schools as a model, the union says a broader effort to centralize photocopying service could save the district $2.25 million over the next five years.

Help students and parents get the answers they need: The union says continued staffing cuts have made it difficult to get parents the critical information they need. Developing new and effective means of communication could save the district $4.5 million over the next five years, says the report.

While it's designed to help Detroit students, the plan is also an attempt to save jobs. Collaboration is the key, the report says, arguing that privatizing DPS services would prove "inefficient and wasteful."

To that end, the union proposes the immediate formation of a Labor Management Committee as "a vehicle for partnership and collaboration."

Emergency Financial Manager Robert Bobb told the Detroit Free Press he embraces the attempts to cut cots and supports the idea of a Management Labor Committee.